Late Nights

• Whew, I went to bed really late last night, I'm tired. I'll go to sleep early tonight.

or

• Oh man, I went to bed really late last night. Now my sleep schedule is all messed up, and therefore I'll start feeling tired even later tonight.

What determines which approach I take? Is it just an issue of choosing, i.e. free will? Or is there something more to it?

Addicted to Exercise

Note: My earlier promise to only post things that are new, true, and interesting is getting in the way of my posting as often as I'd like to. I hereby revoke that promise. This blog post, for example, is not spectacular or particularly noteworthy, though I think it does have real content.

For a long time, I have been planning on getting into an exercise routine. Lately, I think I might have gotten it. My plan is to have one big bike ride on Sundays (last week I did close to 30 miles up the Schuylkill River), and a few smaller rides during the week. Last week, between biking to and from work and short bike rides after work, I put in about 50 miles total.

Today, I was forced to give up my planned weekly big ride because I have a meeting with a professor tomorrow, before which I am expected to have done a whole lot of work, most of which I have procrastinated until now. When I left the computer lab after sitting there for way too many hours on end, I started biking home, but after a few blocks, realized that I am addicted to biking, and turned around to go for a ride. As this is West Philly, I had to turn around to head east, away from The Dark and Gloomy Forbidden Forest known as West Philly, and towards the New and Improved Fantastic Miraculous University City, home of lecture halls and science labs. As this was nighttime, and all the professors and grad students had gone home, the lecture halls and science labs surprisingly seemed less scary than the Forbidden Forest. I headed down Baltimore, down University Ave. (which has a MUCH steeper hill than I ever realized - I hit a maximum speed of 27.2 MPH going down there, without even pedaling hard), saw Troy (one of the kitchen workers at Hillel), chatted with him for a minute, headed back up University Ave. (it's as steep going up as it is going down), and then went home, panting hard. All in all, not a long ride, but a good ride.

Addiction.

It's not generally a good thing.

But I think that here it's OK.

The problem with addictions in general is that the addicted person is so attached to his drug, or whatever practice he's addicted to, that when he misses out he experiences withdrawal symptoms. When it comes to exercise, I think we're all addicted, whether we realize it or not. When we don't exercise, we all experience the withdrawal symptoms - the lethargy, the dead feeling, the lack of spark. The thing is, only some people are attuned enough to that feeling to recognize it. So rather than worrying about am I getting addicted, I should be proud that I recognize the symptoms of lack of exercise and that I have a natural desire to fight against that.

A new name for an old blog

It's not uncommon that when you eat a shabbos meal at someone's house, you're asked to give a dvar Torah. My Rebbe Rav Blachman does not suffice with asking for just any dvar Torah. He says, "Tell me something new, true, and interesting." It's always a bit of a challenge - with someone like Rav Blachman, you can't get away with just telling over a Ramban as he knows right away that's not new. Many of the vortlech floating around while cute, simply can not stand up to any kind of scrutiny, if you try to figure out what they're actually trying to say. (Not that I'm against vortlech in general, I'm just against the ones with no substance behind them.) And as for interesting - who knows what someone else will find interesting?

Well, this is the task I'd like to challenge myself with on this blog. I need to make sure I don't get intimidated by the name, and hesitate to post things because I'm not sure if they're new, true, or interesting enough, but I hope that this name change will do something to frame (in my mind, at least) what this blog is supposed to be.

Shma Koleinu

In the bracha of sh'ma koleinu, we start out with 3 requests:

• שמע קולינו
• חוס ורחם עלינו
• קבל ברחמים וברצון את תפילתנו

We often think that sh'ma koleinu is about HKBH hearing our tefillos, but I think there's more to it than that. Even aside from our articulated תפילות, we each have our own קולות, be they voices of happiness or sadness, accomplishment or despair, exhiliration or frustration. Even when we don't succeed at transforming those inner voices into articulated prayer, the שומע תפילות still hears them, ומלפניו ריקם לא ישיבנו.

Jerusalem: A Lightbulb Factory?

This is the article that I had published a few weeks ago, a revision of an earlier blog post from here. Enjoy.

At a wedding I went to a few weeks ago, one song that they song caught my attention. The song was was Yershalayim Oro shel Olam: “Jerusalem is the light of the world, and Who is the light of Jerusalem? The Holy One Blessed be He.”

What does this song mean?

The land of Israel has a very significant location. Israel is nestled between the three Old World continents of Asia, Europe, and Africa – Asia to the east, Europe to the northwest, and Africa to the southwest. Trade routes often went through Israel, and because of this, ancient Israel was a prime spot to be conquered by any new power who wished to control those trade routes. On many medieval maps, the three continents of Asia, Europe, and Africa were drawn as three petals of a flower with its center in Israel. Israel was seen as the middle of the world, and Jerusalem, in its center, as the exact center. We know today that the world has seven continents and not three, and that you can’t really define any point on a sphere as the center of the world. But this idea has a deeper message that is no less relevant today as it was in the days of spice caravans and the silk route.

Jerusalem, as the center of the Jewish people, is supposed to be the city from which Torah, including moral ethics, shines to the world. “Ki Mitzion Teitzei Torah, uDvar Hashem miYerushalyim - For from Zion will come forth Torah, and the word of God from Jerusalem.” Jerusalem today is the home of many hundreds of yeshivas, but academic study alone is insufficient to spread the word of God to the rest of the world. We must serve as a positive example as well. People look to the Jews, especially those in their “home turf”, as a model of moral behavior. When we do the right thing, or the wrong thing, people look to us as an example. Oftentimes, especially in the Diaspora, we only have the chance to be an example as individuals; when we exist in Jerusalem, in a country with Jerusalem as its capital, we are a national example.

This month, Israel, and by extension the entire Jewish people, is under the spotlight for its actions in Gaza. When people see what Israel does, they see it as reflecting the Jewish people, the Am Hashem. When Israel acts in a moral and ethical way, that creates a kiddush Hashem, a spreading of God’s light from Jerusalem. If they act otherwise, it creates a chilul Hashem, a darkening of that light.

I will leave it to others more knowledgeable to comment on whether all of Israel’s actions in Gaza were appropriate, but it’s important to remember that appearances are important too. Ethical behavior alone will not create a Kiddush Hashem if it’s not accompanied by impeccable appearances. This just creates the obligation for us, even if we are not generally political people, to do what we can in the area of hasbara, explaining to people how Israel’s actions are not just morally justified but morally positive so this light can continue to go forth.

My prayer as I sang the song, and as I write this article, is that we should continue to do the right thing, and that we should succeed in spreading the light of Judaism and the light of moral ethics to the world. It’s our job to take the light that God graciously shines on Jerusalem, and spread that light to the world. Let Jerusalem be seen rightfully as the source of light to the world, and may God be seen as the true source of light and ethics to the Jewish people and the entire world. Amen.

Guaranteed methods of waking up

You ever wanted to find something that is guaranteed to wake up you up in the morning? The fire alarm in Rodin does the trick. "ATTENTION, ATTENTION, an emergency has been reported in this building. While the situation is investigated, please go to the nearest fire exit stairway. Do not use elevators, repeat, do not use elevators. Err. Err. Err. Err. Err." I'm misquoting it here, but you get the idea. I actually tried recording it with a camera so I could extract the audio and put it on my phone as an alarm, but by the time I had the idea and got out my camera, the "Attention, attention" lady had finished her thing and the alarm was just "Err err err", which is not really that different from my alarm clock, other than sheer volume.

On a related note: For high school, I lived in a dorm. Unlike college dorms, in high school dorms they kinda make it their business to make sure you get up in the morning and such things. (Not that they were always effective, but at least they tried.) It took me a few years, maybe until my senior year, until I realized that they rang the school bell twice every morning. I knew about their other methods, and on occasion wondered why the bell was ringing at such an hour, but it really took me a few years to realize that a bell was ringing every morning, twice a morning, right outside my bedroom door, to wake me up.

The Genetic Code of Purim: ACGT

The Genetic Code of Purim: ACGT

A True Chronicle about Antisemitism, “Cleansing,” Genocide and Terrorism,
Attempted and Averted – Thank G-d!

Cryptically Told to Confuse and Amuse!

In this adaptation of the Book of Esther, all words begin A, C, G, or T,
the four letters of the genetic code[1].

© Sarina Kopinsky, Genetic Counselor

UCD DNA Diagnostic Laboratory[2], Anschutz campus, Aurora, Colorado:
the center that tests gene changes causing childhood and adult genetic conditions –
also Tay-Sachs, Canavan, CF, Gaucher, and all those Ashkenazi conditions (though that’s another topic!)

Question: What does Purim have in common with DNA?

A: Huh – what? You talkin’ about the DNA double helix inside our cells? Genes and chromosomes?

A: Uh … We inherit both DNA and Purim from the Jews of Persia!

A: Duh … We loved biology class almost as much as we loved Hebrew School!

A: Both are miraculous! Purim celebrates hidden miracles – events we can interpret as either coincidence or the hand of G-d! DNA carries all our genetic secrets! How miraculous that a simple “alphabet” of only four letters – A, C, G and T – spells out our entire growth and metabolism!

A: Nyaa – too serious – there’s no connection; it’s just an excuse for a fun Purim Schpiel!

You’ll find no direct mention here of
Megilla, miracle, Mordechai, Queen Esther, Vashti,
Haman, hamantashen, horses, harem, holiday,
Purim, Persia, pogrom, palace, Shushan, king, emperor, royalty,
fasting and feasting, party or banquet^[3].
But we know you’ll get the picture!

An ancient^[4] Tanach^[5] tale: –

A cruel, arrogant tyrant^[6] arose and convinced Achashverosh^[7] to generate trouble against the country’s tiniest group^[8] and create a time to attack them all, also the children, and to take their cash and goods – this gruesome action to go throughout the capital city^[9] and all the territories, town and country^[10]. The tyrant committed to give ten thousand coins to the treasury to cover the cost.

The tribe, good citizens, grieved and cried at their trials and tribulations. Their great chief^[11], cousin^[12] to Achashverosh’s attractive consort at court^[13] (after the chief concubine^[14] got the axe!) advised the girl to act appropriately to avert the threat. Trusting this advice, the girl gathered courage, gallantly appealed to Achashverosh, accused the tyrant, and turned the trouble to a glorious celebration.

And thus, the criminal act got turned around. Charbonah, an advisor to Achashverosh, told Achashverosh about the gallows at the tyrant’s address. The antisemite and ten children got the gallows, and Achashverosh gave away their assets. The twisted tyrant’s gigantic gallows, aimed at curtailing a Torah^[15] giant, actually curtailed the tyrant, thus achieving G-d’s goal, that the tribe continue and not cease to commit themselves to the Torah’s commandments.

Achashverosh told the tribe to gather and take action, at the appointed time, Adar Thirteenth^[16], against anyone attacking them. The concerned gentile community asked to affiliate themselves to this group to avoid any collateral calamity. The terrorists that attacked got the treatment they tried to cause, and thankfully, a colossal genocide was averted^[17]. Goodbye to all those antisemitic thugs!

Achashverosh advanced the cousin, giving glory, gorgeous clothing, a golden crown, and a court appoint­ment.

The tribe all agreed, at that time, to adopt this commemoration^[18] as their accepted custom. They continue till today, alive and thriving, celebrating
G-d’s great­ness and apparent coin­cidences. They also thank­fully acknowledge good Charbonah.

Today their communities congregate at community centers and tell these anecdotes to their children, chanting the traditional trope tunes^[19]. They clap Graggers^[20] to condemn the tyrant’s grievous actions. They give gifts^[21] (the children accumulate a generous candy collection) and charity^[22], and add al’hanissim[23] to their Grace^[24] and Amidah^[25]. The talented among them act the tale at carnivals; their costumes conceal the truth and confirm that things aren’t always as they appear.

To copy the girl’s advance arrangements anticipating a court appear­ance and a treach­erous confrontation about the crisis, the tribe’s adults afflict their appetites^[26]. Then they cheerfully consume triangular cakes^[27] – confections called after the tyrant’s three-cornered cap.

They cook tasty cuisine to celebrate^[28], and also tend to consume alcohol “ad-lo-yada”^[29] – a controversial act, as getting tipsy apparently transgresses Torah according to certain Gedolim (great Torah teachers), and can cause trouble among teens and adults alike! Anyway, the alcohol and carousing at Achashverosh’s court already created ample trouble, according to certain commentators!

Today another terrifying tyrant^[30] controls that country^[31], and tries again to afflict G-d’s chosen tribe and their ancient territory^[32]. They aim to achieve this awful goal (tu!-tu!) – to create an atomic apocalypse against this tribe and against America and all creation. Can the good guys allow this to transpire?

(Go ahead – compose another add-on chapter. This can amuse, and train the thinking.)

Can goodness triumph, converting all terror to creative great­ness? The Torah teaches that this can come about, against all gambling tendencies, at a time^[33] that all creation gives cognizance to Torah’s truth and carries this great challenge to completion!

---

[1] http://www.eurekascience.com/

[2] www.uchsc.edu/DNALab

[3] But G-d’s name, which does not appear in the Megilla, is spelled out, so to speak, in this ACGT version.

[4] About 352 BCE

[5] The Book of Esther, in the Writings section of Tanach (Bible)

[6] Haman the Agagite, descendant of Amalek

[7] King Ahasuerus, Ataxerxes II of Persia

[8] The Jews

[9] Shushan

[10] The Persian Empire, from India to Ethiopia

[11] Mordechai

[12] Cousin or uncle, whatever

[13] Queen Esther

[14] Vashti

[15] Torah: lit., the Five Books of Moses; metaphorically, Jewish teaching in general

[16] In the Hebrew calendar

[17] Would have been the Persian Holocaust!

[18] Purim

[19] Reading the Megilla scroll containing the Book of Esther

[20] Graggers: Noisemakers to drown out Haman’s name

[21] Mishloach Manot (Shalach Manos), sending servings of Purim delicacies

[22] Matanot La-evyonim, gifts for the needy

[23] Al-hanissim: Prayer thanking G-d for miracles

[24] Grace after Meals

[25] Amidah, the focal point of all daily prayer services

[26] The Fast of Esther

[27] Hamantashen, yum!

[28] The Purim se’udah, festive meal

[29] Ad-lo-yada: Until it’s a challenge to recognize evil when it stares you in the face – lit., until one can’t tell the difference between Bless Mordechai and Curse Haman! Wow – just can’t figure out the difference between a hanging and a hangover!

[30] Ahmadinejad, aka Ah-Madman-Jihad

[31] Iran = Persia

[32] Israel

[33] The Messianic Age